Animal trap



April 1949- M. J. ETERsoN I 2 466,27

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Oct. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3 F J; Z6

55 INVENTOR April 1949- H. J. PETERsoM 2466,2769

ANIMAL TRAP Filed Oct. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTQRHENRYQLPETERSUN 1 f fwaz, /W M 17% W Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATESi ATENT OFFICE ANIMAL TRAP Henry .1. Peterson, Webster City, IowaApplication Gctober 16, 1944, Serial No. 558,885

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to animal traps and in particularto atrap for rats and mice, which is automatically set on movement of thejaw froma released position to a set position therefor.

Traps generally usedfor catching rats and mice al'edesi'gned to providefor a sensitive or ready release of a springactuated jaw to an animalcatching or capturing position. In many of these traps, however, thesensitive release of the spring jaw is accomplished at a sacrifice inthe safe setting of the trap so that oftentimes the trap-'is'sprungwhile inthe hands of the trap user,

or on a sli-ght jarring of the trap in setting it on a floor surface.

Another objection to traps of thistype in common use is found in thefact that the spring actuatedjaw is movable through an angle ofsubstantially 180 from a latched position to a sprung position. Byvirtue of this relatively large angular-travel of the jaw a rat or mouseis warned of impending danger and often able to move out of the trapbefore the jaw reaches a sprung position.

Yet a further disadvantage in these traps is the'fact that the baitholding portion of the trap is generally incapable of securely holding abait material whereby the bait is removed from the trap without the trapbeing sprung. This difficulty is usually overcome by tying or otherwisesecuring the bait in the bait holder with string or't-he like, but'thisprocedure is generally inconvenient and as a result is oftentimes leftundone.

It is an-object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedanimal trap.

Another object of this invention is to provide an animal trap in which aspring actuated pivoted jaw is automatically set on its movement into aset position and releasably but positively held against premature oraccidental release.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an animal trap inwhich a pivoted trap jaw is movable through a complete angular distanceof substantially 90 and, when sprung, has substantially the completeperiphery thereof in a closed relation with the trap base.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an all metalanimal trap which is compact, comprised of a relatively few number ofparts having wide manufacturing tolerances, capable of being assembledwithout the use of tools or jigs, and efficient in operation.

' Yet another object of this invention is to provide an animal-traphaving a bait member with.

a bait holding portion of a construction adapted to hold the baitagainst being stolen from the trap by an animal.

A feature of this invention is found inthe provision of an animaltrap-having a bait member resting on the trap base and guidablyconnected with a pivoted trigger member for gravity movementlongitudinally of the trigger, at an upper pivotally moved position-ofthe trigger, to lock trigger in a jaw setting position. Thetrigger movedto a jaw setting position concurrently with a movement of the jaw toaset position.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of'the animal trap of this invention showingthe'jaw in a sprung-position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the trap with the jaw in asprung position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of the trap taken on the line 33in Fig. l but showing the jaw in a set position;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly insection, showing theassembly of the bait'meinber and trigger member in the trap of Fig; 1;

Fig. 4a-is a reduced detail view, illustrated similarly to Fig. 4 andshowing the bait member and triggermember in changed positionsrel-ative'to their showing in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof thetrigger member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig.- dis a perspective view-ofthe bait member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along'the' line l--'l in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a-sectional view as seen'on'the'line 8-43 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a rearend elevation of the-trap looking toward the left inFig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary-sectional view taken on'the line iii-50 in Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the'trap jaw;

Fig. 1215 a fragmentary plan View of a modified form of trigger-memberand base member assembly; and

Fig. 13 isa sectional view taken on the line iii-i3 in Fig. 12.

With-reference to the drawings-the animal trap of this invention isshown in-Figs. l and 2 as including a sheet metal "base member 15integrally constructed with an upturned 'marginal flange 16 havingupwardly sloped oppositely arranged 'sides li. A pair of transverselyspaced lugs l3 are punched upwardly inthe base '15 between the highspots of the upwardly sloped sides IT. A second pair of transverselyspaced lugs iii are punched upwardly in the base it adjacent the baserear end and inwardly of the lugs it; for a purpose which will appearlater.

Extended through each high spot of an inclined or sloped flange side iiand an adjacent lug I8 is a pivot pin 2!, illustrated in the drawings asa cotter key, for pivotally supporting a leg or lateral projection 22 ofa spring actuated jaw 23 of an open integral construction and of agenerally arched form (Figs. 9 and ll). The free ends of the jaw legs orprojections 2'2 are pivoted on a corresponding pin 52! adjacent acorresponding flange side ll. The free ends of the jaw legs 22 areconnected together by a curved transverse member 2 As shown in Fig. 3the jaw legs 22 are of a length substantially equal to the distancebetween the pivot pins 2! and the rear side 26 of the base flange it sothat when the jaw is in an upright or set position, the transverse legconnecting member 2 3 is curved upwardly and inwardly of the trap andadjacent the inner edge of the flange rear side 2%.

Extended longitudinally from the free ends of the jaw legs 22! is aU-shaped member formed with curved legs 21 which, on movement of the jaw23 to a sprung position, are adapted to close against the base it. Thelegs Eli are of a length such that when the jaw is in a sprung positionthe closed end 28 of the U member is adjacent the inner surface of thefront side 2% of the base flange It and against the base 5, with thelegs 21 being adjacent the inner surface of the flange sides ll betweenthe flange front side 2! and the pivot pins 2! (Figs. 1 and 2). As aresult when jaw 23 is in a sprung position the lower marginal edgethereof is in a closing relation with the base I5.

Each leg 21 of the U member, adjacent a corresponding jaw leg 22, isformed with an inwardly punched out lug 3i adapted for abuttingengagement with one end 32 of a coil spring 33 mounted about a pivot pin2i between a lug it and a corresponding jaw leg 22. The opposite end 34of a spring 33 is extended rearwardl on the base 15 and is flat againstthe base over substantially the com lete length thereof as shown in Fig.10. It is seen, therefore, that the pair of springs 33 are oppositelyarranged in a spaced relation between the legs 22 of the jaw 23. Onmovement of the jaw 23 to a set position a pressure is stored in thesprings 33, which pressure is released when the trap is sprung to movethe jaw into a closed position with the base iii.

The springs are of a like construction so as to be interchangeable witheach other. Further, the end portions 32 and 3d of the springs are ofthe same length so that a spring is reversely interchangeable in itsassembly in a trap. In other words the rear end portion 3 of a spring 33can be positioned against a lug 3i, and a front end portion 32 can bepositioned against the base iii to actuate the jaw 23 in all respects asdescribed above. As previously mentioned the rear end per-- tions 34 ofthe springs 33 are flat against the base over substantially their fulllength (Fig. As a result any pressure exerted by a spring 33 is appliedon the base 55 over a relatively large bearing surface whereby anydeformation of. the base l5, which might occur if the pressure wereapplied on the base only at the free end of the spring portion 34, isentirely eliminated. As a result the base member [5 may be formed of arelatively thin sheet material.

The jaw 23 is releasably held in a latched or set position by a triggermechanism including an upright trigger member 35 of a substantially L-shape having the free end of its short leg til positioned between thelug members H9. The trigger is pivotally supported on a pin 38 projectedthrough the lugs i9 and through an opening in the leg ill. The rear sideof the short leg 3! is formed with a pair of rearwardly extendedangularly spaced projections 39 and M. The free end of the longer leg 42of the trigger member 35 is provided with an opening 43 adapted toreceive a pin it for a purpose which will be later explained.

A bait member 65 is integrally formed with a bait holding front portion4? and an upright channel rear portion 4?. The channel 4? is in--tegrally formed at its rear end with a pair of oppositely arrangedlaterally extended brace portions 18, the bottoms of which are slopedupwardly and inwardly for junction with the bottom 49 of the channel ll.The bottom 49 in turn is curved upwardly and downwardly longitudinallyof the channel il so as to provide a low spot or bearing 5! at thejunction of the channel 41 with the bait holding portion 46 which isextended upwardly and forwardly from the low spot 5 i. As a result thebait member is adapted to rest on the base member if; in a three pointcontact, namely, "1e low spot 5i and at the outer lower ends 52 of thelateral extensions 43.

The sides of the channel ll rearwardly of the low spot M are formed withoppositely arranged slots 53 each of which includes an upwardly andrearwardly extended slot portion Fri having a forwardly and upwardlyextended slot portion 56 open to and in communication with the upper endthereof.

In the assembly of the trigger mechanism the longer leg 12 of thetrigger member 36 is positioned within the channel l'i' with the openingit in alignment with the slots 53. The pin 44 is extended through thealigned slots 53 and the opening with the opposite ends of the pin 44being guidably movable in the slots 55 It is seen, therefore, that thebait member is nzovably supported on the base it and guidably supportedby the trigger member 3%- against lateral movement, while permitting apivotal up and down movement of the tri ger member 36 within the channel4?.

In the operation of the trigger mechanism, assume the trap to be in itssprun position shown in Fig. 2, so that the bait member 45 and thetrigger member 36 are in their full line positions shown in Fig. 4. Withthe trap held so as to be either level, or inclined upwardly from itsrear end, the jaw is pivotally moved upwardly to its set position shownin Fig. 3 so that the lower side 5'? of the transverse connecting memberE i engages and moves the trigger rear extension li whereby the legmember is moved upwardly within the channel it of the bait member.During this pivotal movement of the leg member the pin '34 is moved 0.,.rdly against the top edge of the slots so that on a continued upwardpivotal movement of the leg member 42 to a position defined by theengagement of the projection ll with the base member iii, the frontportion MS of the bait member 4-5 is raised and the bait member 45 issupported on the base l5 only at the ends 52 of the extensions 48,whereby the bait member is longitudinally moved rearwardly, by theaction of gravity, and the pin 44 is received within the lateral slotextensions 56, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

Concurrently with the-pivotalmovement of-the triggermernber 3'5 and theresultant longitudinal rearward movement of the bait member #15 toposition the 'pin 44 within the upper slot extensions 56, the rearwardextension 39 on the trigger member is moved into the path of travel ofthe connecting member 2&- as illustrated for the dotted line position ofthe trigger member in Fig. 4. As a result, on initial movement of thejaw 23, in a counter-clockwise direction from its dotted line positionshown in Fig. 4, the upper side 58 ofthe connecting member 2 engages theprojection 39 (Fig. 3). By virtue of this engagement, and the pressureof the springs 33 acting to move the jaw 23 in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3, the leg 32% of the trigger member 3? isurged in a counter-cloclrwise direction. However, with the pin itlocated in the slot extensions. 5%,: and with the forward. end'oi theslot extensions 55 being located rearwardly of the forward contact pointiii, the trigger 36 is releasably locked against downward pivotalmovement, to in turn releasably loch the jaw-23 against movement to asprung position.

Dueto the spaced relation of therear contact portions-52 on the channelll the bait member 45 is positively held against any lateral wobblingaction due to the pressure exerted thereon through the pin Mi. It is tobe noted also that the pin 44 is entirely within the confines of theslot extensions to provide a relatively large bearing surface betweenthe trigger member 36 and the bait member 55. Lik wise, the full widthof the top surface 58 of the connecting member 24 is in engagement withthe rear extension It is thus apparent that the releasable connec tionsfor holding the jaw 23 in a set position are in complete and fullbearing engagement with each other whereby to substantially all ate anypremature or accidental springing of the trap.

In the setting of the trap it is conte lated that the fingers of bothhands be placed below the base its at the rear end of the trap and with.the thumbs positioned on the upper surface of connecting member id. Byapplying pressure through the thumbs the jaw 23 is readily ed to its setposition shown in r c fingers and thumbs are at all t cos "ree aposition at which they can be caught with the trap, in the event the jaw23 is released prior to its being latched in. a set position. With thetrap being automatically set on movement of the jaw23 to a set position,and with acomplete an full bearing engagement between the pin and slotconnection in the trigger mechanism, tween the extension til and theconnecting ber .24, it is apparent that a maximum safety is provided forin the setting of the trap.

The trap is sprung on downward pivots. ment of the bait-holding portion.4%. Th Ward pivotal movement, in conjunct location of contact forwardlyof the ion ends of the slot extensions provides for a movement of thepin ii-l out of the slot extensions 56 and into the up: ht portions ofthe slots 553. On movement or the pin i ewithin the upright slotportions 5d the leg 32 of the trigger 35 is pivoted downwardly, to inturn move the rear extension 39 out of an engaging position with theconnecting member t, whereby the jaw 23 is released and moved thepressure of the springs 33 into an animal capturing position relative tothe base 15.

In. this connection it has been found that the jawwill. be releasedwithout the bait holding l move-- portion 48 being immediately moveddownwardly.

to a position at which the pin l 'i is positioned within the slotportions 5 3. Oftentimes a mouse or a rat will dabble around with thebait before proceeding with eating or tugging on the bait. With eachdabbling action the bait member 45 tends to move forwardly of the trapas a result of its slidable and pivotal support on the base member i5the contact point di and the downward pressure applied on the pin t lthrough the trigger member As a result on the completion of a pluralityof dabbling actions the pin i l is located within the upright slotportions 5 3 and the jaw sprung before any relatively heavy pulls orbites have been made on the bait.

In many traps oi the prior art the efiectiveness oi the trap is reducedby virtue of the fact that the bait holding portion is incapable ofproperly holding the bait so as to prevent the bait being stolen withoutspringing to t vention by the provision of a bait holding portioncapable of receiving and firmly holding cheese, bacon or like material.

Referring to Figs. 6, 'i and 8 the bait holder it is ill a-ted includinga base member 59 having extended side flanges iii and a front flange i,base formed with a longitudinally extei led lug punched upwardly thereinto height below the top level of the side flanges 5i, and with the fixedend (iii of the lug til adjacent the front flange As best appears inFig. l the sides of the lug 63 are tapered inwardly from the fixed lugand E i, and the lug 63 is of a width slightly less than the width oithe base 59 between the side flanges iii. The lug 63 in turn is formedwith a downwardly extended punched out lug 55, the free end of which isadjacent the fixed end 6 3 of the lug 63. When the trap is baited withcheese or like material, the is pressed into a pocket 6i definedby thefront $2, the raised fixed end 5d of the lug and the portions of theside flanges 6! extended .etween the front flange t2 and the lug end 5During the pressing of the cheese mat l thin the pocket 6i portionsthereof are extended about the fixed end b t of the lug 63 to provide ananchor for holding the cheese within the pocket till.

In. the use of a bacon strip or lil e material indicated at in Fig. 7,the strip material is inserted beneath the lug 63 and then movedforwardly to the fixed end 6d of the lug. During this forward movementthe strip material is positioned ahead of the downwardly and forwardlyextended lug iii; which serves as a guard or stop to prevent a rearwardmovement of the strip material. Al o, by virtue of the fact that the lugis below the top level of side flanges El and of tapered construction,the strip matee". between the side flanges [H and the o... iovement ofthe material from the free end to the fixed end of the lug. As a resultof this construction of the bait holder cheese, bacon or like materialis firmly held the a d unable to be removed from the bait holder i frontthe application of a force sufficie t 0 sp vrig the trap.

forn of tri ger mechanism is shown 13 which is similar in many reto thetrigger mechanism disclosed in Figs.

i si

spects 4, 5 and 5. fore, will be used to in With ref rence to Figs. 12and 13 the bait member ita similar in all respects tothe bait meme- .atecorresponding parts.

trap. This objection be prior traps is overcome in the present ina ber45 in Fig. 6 except that aligned openings 69 in the channel 4?, locatedrearwardly of the front contact M, are substituted for the oppositelyarranged pair of slots 53. The trigger member 36a is formed with a legmember 31! and rearward extensions 39 and in all respects similar to thelike parts of the trigger member 36 in 5. The forwardly projectedextension or longer leg of the trigger member 38a is formed at its frontend with a slot l2 comprised of an upwardly and rearwardly extended slotportion i3 and a rearwardly and downwardly extended slot portion l4 opento the lower end of the slot portion it.

In the assembly of the bait member 3504 with the trigger member Zita theforward extension ii is positioned within the channel ll, with the slot12 in alignment with the openings 69. A pin i6 is then inserted throughthe aligned slot "l2 and the openings 65 to pivotally connect thetrigger member 36a with the bait member dba, while providing for alongitudinal movement of the bait member relative to the trigger member.

In the operation of the trigger mechanism in Figs. 12 and 13 theconnecting member 2d cooperates with the rear extensions 39 and ll ofthe trigger member 350; in all respects the same as was previouslydescribed in connection with the cooperative action of the jaw 23 withthe trigger member On pivotal movement of the trigger member Sta to aposition defined by the engagement of the rear extension ii with thebase member it the forward extension l l of the trigger member 33a isinitially pivotally moved relative to the bait member li a to locate thepin 15 at the lower end of the upright slot portion 13. With the pin inthis position, and on a continued pivotal movement of the triggerforward portion ii, the bait member 55a is longitudinally movedrearwardly by the action of gravity to locate the pin within the slotextension or recess It. On engagement of the connecting member 24 withthe rearward extension the trigger forward extension "ii is held againstdownward pivotal movement by virtue of the location of the pin it withinthe slot extension M.

On downward pivotal movement of the bait holding portion did, the baitmember 55a is pivoted about the contact bi, whereby to move the pin if;within the upright slot portion 'l With the pin in the upright slotportion the trigger forward extension "ii is released for downwardpivotal movement to in turn release the connecting member 525i from itsengaged position with the rear extension 3d. The jaw is thus releasedfrom its latched or set position and moved into a closing positionrelative to the base it by the action of the springs From aconsideration of the above description it is seen that the inventionprovides an animal trap of an all metal construction which is of asimple and compact design, comprised of but a relatively few number ofparts, and adapted to be assembled. without the use of any tools orjigs. The trap jaw 23 on its movement to a set or latched position, isreleasably but positively held against movement to an animal capturingposition, by a positive abutting engagement between the forward end ofthe channel ii of the bait member and the forward end of the triggermember, and by the engagement of the trigger member extension 39 withthe transverse rne1nber 24 of the jaw 23. As a result a high degree ofsafety against a premature or accidental release of the trap isaccomplished without in any way sacrificing the sensitivity of the trapit is to be understood that for a quick release by an animal acting onthe bait holding portion 48 of the bait member. It is apparent, ofcourse, that in attempting to remove the bait from the bait holdingportion 46 the animal will tend to slide the bait member forwardly onthe base member #5 whereby the release of the jaw 23 is accelerated.

though the invention has been described with respect to preferredembodiments thereof it is not to be so limited since modifications andchanges can be made therein which are within the full intended scope ofthis invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an animal trap comprising a base and a spring actuated pivotedjaw, means for releasably locking said jaw in a set position including abait member adapted to rest on said base and having upright sideportions, a trigger member pivoted at one end on said base and havingthe other end movably received between said upright side portions, withone of said two members having a slot therein formed with vertically andlongitudinally extended portions, a pivot member on the other of saidtwo members guidably movable in said slot, a rearwardly extendedprojection at said one end of the trigger member, said jaw, on movementto a set position, engaging said projection and pivotally moving theother end of said trigger member upwardly relative to said bait member,said bait member, when said pivot member is at the junction of saidvertically and longitudinally extending portions, being inclinedupwardly and forwardl so as to be movable by gravity in a rearwarddirection to provide for the reception of said pivot member within saidlongitudinally extending slot portion, and a stop at said one end of thetrigger member spaced upwardly from said projection and engageable withthe jaw to hold the jaw in a set position, with said jaw being releasedon movement of said bait member to dislodge said pivot member from saidlongitudinally extending slot portion.

2. In an animal trap comprising a base and a spring actuated pivotedjaw, means for latching said jaw in a set position including a baitmember adapted to rest on said base and having an upright portion, atrigger portion pivoted at one end on said base for pivotal movement ofits other end relative to said upright portion, with one of said twoportions having a slot therein formed with connected longitudinally andvertically extending sections, a laternal projection on the other or"said portions movable within said slot on pivotal up and down movementof said trigger portion, said bait member, when said lateral projectionis at the junction of said longitudinally and vertically extendingsections, being inclined upwardly and forwardly so as to be movedrearwardly by gravity longitudinally of said trigger member to positionsaid lateral projection within said longitudinally extending sectionwhereby to hold said trigger portion against downward pivotal movement,means on said trigger portion engageable with said jaw, on pivotalmovement thereof to a set position, to pivotally move said triggerportion to locate said lateral projection at said junction, and a stopon said trigger portion engageable with said jaw to releasably latch thejaw in a set position.

3. In an animal trap comprising a base and a spring actuated pivotedjaw, a bait holder having a U-shaped member at one end adapted tovertically extending: portions,

rest on said base, a trigger member for releas- "ably holding said jawin a set position pivoted at one end on said base, and having the oth rend thereof pivotally movable within said U- shaped member, with one ofsaid members a slot therein formed with longitudinally and verticallyextending portions, a lateral projection on the other of said membersslidably movable in said slot, said projection, when said trigger memberis in anupwardly moved position, being located at the junction of saidlongitudinall and and said bait holder, with the projection at saidjunction being inclined upwardly and forwardly so as to be movable bygravity longitudinally of said trigger member to position saidprojection in the longi tudinally extending slot portion whereby tohold. the trigger member against downward pivotal movement, and a pair,paced rearwardly extended portions at. one end of the trig er member,with one .of said rearwardly extended portionsbeing engaged by said jaw,on pivotal movement to a set position, to pivot the trigger membertosaid moved position, and the other of said rearwardly extended portionsbeing engaged by said jaw to latch the jaw against pivotal movement outof a set position.

4. In an animal trap comprising a base and a spring actuated pivotedjaw, a bait holder having an upright channel member adapted to rest onsaid base, an upright trigger member movable in said channel member andhaving one end projected rearwardly from said channel member, meanspivotally connecting said one end on said base for pivotal up and. downmovement of said trigger member in said channel member, with one of saidtwo members having a slot therein formed with longitudinally andvertically extending portions, a transverse pin on the other of said twomembers slidably movable in said slot, and a pair of rearwardlyprojected spaced extensions on said one end of the trigger member, withone of said extensions being engageable by said jaw, on pivotal movementthereof in one direction to a set position, to pivotally move saidtrigger member upward to locate said pin at the junction of saidlongitudinally and vertically extending slot portions, whereby said baitmember is inclined upwardly and forwardly so as to be rearwardly movableby gravity longitudinally of said trigger member to position said pinwithin the longitudinally extending slot portion and hold said triggermember against downward pivotal movement, said jaw, on initial pivotalmovement thereof in an opposite direction, being engaged and held by thesecond one of said extensions in a set position.

5. In an animal trap comprising a base, a spring actuated jaw, a baitmember having an end portion adapted to rest on said base, a pair ofspaced upright members on said end portion, a trigger member pivoted atone end on said base, and having the other end thereof movable betweensaid upright members, a pin and slot connection between the other end ofsaid tri ger member and said upright members adapted to provide for anup and down pivotal movement of said trigger member between said uprightmembers, and for an upward movement of the front end of said bait memberas said trigger member approaches an upper pivotally moved positiontherefor, said bait member, when trigger member is in an upper pivotallymoved position, being rearwardly movable longitudinally of said triggermember by the action of gravity, to retain said trigger member againstdownward pivotal movement, and a pair of spaced rearwardly projectedextensions on said one end of the trigger member, said jaw, on pivotalmovement in one direction toward a set position, engaging one of saidextensions and pivot/ally moving said trigger member to said upperposition, and said jaw, on initial movement thereof in an oppositedirection, being engaged and held by said second extension in a setposition.

6. In an animal trap comprising a base, a spring actuated pivoted jaw,means for latching said jaw in a set position including a trigger memberivoted at one end on the base, abait member .pted to rest on said baseand guidably supported on the other end of said trigger member, with oneof said members having a slot therein formed with longitudinally andvertically extending portions, a lateral projection on the other of saidmembers slidably movable in said vertically extending slot portion on upand down pivotal movement of said trigger member, and movable in saidlongitudinally extending slotportion on rearward movement of said baitmember relative to said trigger member, said bait member, when saidtrigger member is in an uppermost pivotally moved position relative tosaid bait member, being inclined upwardly and forwardly so as to berearwardly movable by the action of gravity, with the projection inlongitudinally extending slot portion holding the trigger-member againstdownward pivotal movement, a first rearward extension on said one end ofthe trigger member adapted to be engaged by said jaw, on pivotalmovement thereof in one direction toward a set position, to pivot saidtrigger member to said uppermost position, and a second rearwardextension on said one end of said trigger member spaced above said firstextension and adapted to hold said jaw in a set position.

'7. In an animal trap comprising a base, a spring actuated jaw, a baitmember having a bait holding portion and an upright channel shapedportion adapted to rest on said base, an upright trigger member pivotedat one end on said base, with its other end movably positioned withinsaid channel portion, said channel portion having a pair of oppositelyarranged slots therein, with each of said slots having an upright slotportion and a longitudinally extended slot portion open to the upper endof said upright slot portion, a lateral projection on said triggermember slidably movable in said slots, said projection being movable insaid upright slot portions on pivotal movement of said trigger memberabout said one end thereof, said bait member, when said projection is atthe junction of said upright and longitudinally extended slot portions,being inclined upwardly and forwardly so as to be moved rearwardly bygravity to position said projection within said longitudinally extendedslot portions to releasably hold said trigger member against downwardpivotal movement, and coacting means on said trigger member and on saidjaw providing for an upward pivotal movement of said trigger member assaid jaw is moved to a set position and for a latching of said jaw in aset position.

8. An animal trap comprising a base and a spring actuated jaw, a baitmember having a bait holding portion and a channel portion adapted torest on said base, an upright trigger member pivoted at one end on saidbase, with its other end pivotally movable within said channel portion,said trigger member having a slot therein with an upright portion and alongitudinally extended portion open to the lower end of said uprightslot portion, a pin member supported on the sides of said channelportion and slidably movable in said slot, said pin member being movablein said upright slotportion on pivotal movement of said trigger member,said bait member, when the pin member is at the junction of said uprightand longitudinally extended slot portions, being inclined upwardly andforwardly so as to be movable rearwardly by gravity to position the pinwithin said longitudinally extended slot portion to releasably hold saidtrigger member against downward pivotal movement, and coacting means onsaid trigger member and on said jaw providing for an upward pivotalmovement of said trigger member as the jaw is moved to a set position,and for a latching of said jaw in a set position.

9. In an animal trap comprising a base, a spring actuated jaw, a baitmember having one portion movably supported on said base, a triggermember pivoted at one end on said base, and having the other end thereofextended longitudinally of said bait member adjacent to said oneportion, a pin and slot connection between said one portion and theother end of said trigger member adapted to provide for a pivotalmovement of said trigger member relative to said bait member, and for amovement of said bait member longitudinally of said trigger member whensaid trigger member is in an upper pivotally moved position, saidtrigger member at one longitudi- REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 615,562 Lawler Dec. 6, 18981,039,001 Winkler Sept. 17, 1912 1,333,875 Pokorny Mar. 16, 19201,407,096 Spencer Feb. 21, 1922 1,891,737 Stilson Dec. 20, 19322,031,520 Zahm et a1. Feb. 18, 1936 2,065,701 Houtsinger Dec. 29, 19362,068,508 Orr Jan. 19, 1937 2,159,483 Huebner et al May 23, 19392,174,929 Slutz Oct. 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,895Italy July 19, 1933 97,863 Sweden Jan. 23, 1940

